Arsenal captain wants to lift players after brutal final ending

Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard is focused on rallying his players after a devastating Champions League final defeat, compounded by missed penalties in the decisive shootout. The loss against Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in Budapest hit hard, especially after Gabriel Magalhães and Eberechi Eze failed to convert their spot-kicks.

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It is our job to lift them now. We know what they have given this team this season, and we would not be here without them.

"It's our job to lift them now," Ødegaard stated, according to Sky Sports. "We know what they have given this team this season, and we would not be here without them." He acknowledged that such setbacks are part of football and life, stressing the team's collective responsibility to recover and return stronger next season.

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It's part of football, it's part of life. It's our job to lift them - and everyone else - and ensure that we come back even stronger next season.

Gabriel Magalhães's penalty attempt sailed high over the crossbar, and he received comfort from PSG captain Marquinhos, a fellow Brazilian. Ødegaard praised this gesture, calling Marquinhos a "gentleman" and recognizing his experience in similar high-stakes finals.

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Marquinhos is a gentleman. He is probably one of the most experienced players on the pitch today. He has been on both sides of a final like this, and he knows what we are going through right now.

Declan Rice, another Arsenal player, shared his disappointment but also offered strong support for his teammates. "It's not nice to miss a penalty in a Champions League final, but we love them," Rice said, as reported by TNT Sports. He added that missing penalties is a common occurrence in football and highlighted the crucial role the two players played in Arsenal's Premier League triumph earlier in the season, stating, "Without the two of them this season, we wouldn't have won the Premier League."

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It's not nice to miss a penalty in a Champions League final, but we love them.